History Highlight:

Today in 1915, Édith Piaf was born in Paris. A cabaret singer, songwriter and film actress, Piaf was one of the most famous figures to come out of France. With her passionate and lilting voice, Piaf recorded such beloved songs as “Non, je ne regrette rien” (No, I regret nothing”), “Hymne à l’amour” (“Hymn to Love”) and “L’Accordéoniste” (“The Accordionist”), with probably her best-known song being 1946's "La Vie en rose." When Piaf died in 1963 at age 47, thousands lined the route of her funeral procession to pay their respects. The Academy Award-winning film about Edith Piaf’s life, La Vie en Rose (2007), stars Marion Cotillard as Piaf.

Also, Today In:

1955 - At Sun Studio in Memphis, Carl Perkins recorded his song "Blue Suede Shoes." It is considered one of the first rockabilly records, and incorporates elements of blues, country and pop music of the time. Perkins' version would make it to No. 2 on the charts, although it was Elvis Presley's cover which became the bigger hit.

1964 - The Beatles’ fourth album Beatles For Sale started a seven-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. album charts. Recorded when Beatlemania was just past its peak, Beatles for Sale was The Beatles' fourth album in just 21 months.

1970 - Elton John's first U.S. hit, “Your Song” entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it went on to reach number eight. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their It Ain't Easy album.

1976 - During an interview with U.K. tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail, the mother of Sex Pistol Paul Cook said he was no longer welcome at home and she was going to turn his bedroom in a dining room.

1980 - 9 to 5, starring Dolly Parton and featuring the classic theme song by the singer (where she uses her fingernails as an instrument), opened in theaters. Parton, in her first acting role, starred alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda as disgruntled secretaries who get even with their sexist boss.

1981 - The final concert of The Rolling Stones' 1981 U.S. tour took place in Hampton, Virginia. It was viewed by thousands when it was shown via cable.

1981 - The Cars peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with their fourth album, Shake it Up, which went on to sell two million copies in the U.S.

1981 - ABBA scored their seventh U.K. No. 1 album with The Visitors, the Swedish pop group's eighth and final studio album. It was one of the first records to be recorded and mixed digitally, and was the first in history to be manufactured on the new CD format in 1982 on Atlantic Records.

1987 - Singer/songwriter Paul Simon hosted Saturday Night Live simultaneously with the senator and then-presidential candidate who bore the same name.

1993 - The Byrds' drummer Michael Clarke died of liver failure at his home in Treasure Island, Florida. He was 47 years old.

1997 - Titanic opened in theaters. It became the top-grossing movie of all time, with a soundtrack that sold about 15 million copies, thanks mostly to the Céline Dion hit, "My Heart Will Go On."

1999 - E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons made a guest appearance on The Simpsons as the narrator of The Simpsons' Christmas.

2000 - 10,000 Maniacs guitarist Robert Buck died of liver failure aged 42. He was best-known for “Hey Jack Kerouac,” “What's The Matter Here” and “Candy Everybody Wants.”

2000 - Songwriter, guitarist and singer and founding member of The Staple Singers, Roebuck “Pops” Staples, died at age 85.

2003 - Tori Amos made her film debut in the Julia Roberts movie, Mona Lisa Smile. In her cameo as a '50s big-band singer at a wedding reception, Amos sings the standards "You Belong To Me" and "Murder, He Says," which also appear on the movie's soundtrack.

2006 - Nas released his eighth studio album, Hip Hop Is Dead. It features the singles "Hip Hop Is Dead" and "Can't Forget About You."

2014 - Darlene Love sang "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on David Letterman's show for the final time, as the host had announced his upcoming retirement.

2015 - Thirty-three years after it was released, Michael Jackson's classic album Thriller became the first to sell more than 30 million copies in the U.S.

Birthdays:

Professor Longhair, blues pianist in New Orleans, was born today in 1918.

Country music singer Little Jimmy Dickens, known for his novelty songs like "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose,” was born today in 1920.

Robert B. Sherman — who wrote songs with brother Richard M. Sherman for Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Slipper and the Rose, and Charlotte's Web. — was born today in 1925. Their best-known work is "It's a Small World (After All)."

Singer Gregory Carroll of the doo-wop groups the Orioles and the Four Buddies was born today in 1929.

Jazz pianist Bobby Timmons was born today in 1935.

Folk singer Phil Ochs was born today in 1940.

Singer Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire was born today in 1941.

Cornell Dupree — guitarist for Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, Donny Hathaway, and more — was born today in 1942.

Alvin Lee, lead singer and guitarist for Ten Years After, was born today in 1944.

Steve Tyrell — producer for Rod Stewart and B.J. Thomas and writer of “How Do You Talk to an Angel” from The Heights — is 81.

Zal Yanovsky of The Lovin Spoonful was born today in 1944.

John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 80.

Jimmy Bain — bassist for Rainbow and Dio, and worked with Kate Bush and Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott — was born today in 1947.

Jazz drummer Lenny White is 76.

Keyboardist and composer Walter Murphy, perhaps best-known for his chart-topping disco adaptation of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, entitled “A Fifth of Beethoven,” is 73.

Japanese noise musician Merzbow is 69.

Limahl of Kajagoogoo and singer of “The NeverEnding Story” theme song from the film of the same name is 67.

Chuckii Booker is 59.

Kevin Devine is 46.

Louise Harman, better known by her stage name Lady Sovereign, is 40.

Mikaela Mullaney Straus, who performs as King Princess, is 27. King Princess’ father was a recording engineer, and she grew up around musicians and recording, which ignited her interest in learning to play instruments and to write songs. In 2018, King Princess released her debut single, “1950”; when Harry Styles tweeted a lyric of the song, its popularity blossomed. Signed to Mark Ronson’s Zelig Records, King Princess has released two full-length albums, 2019’s Cheap Queen and 2022’s Hold On Baby. Beyond music, King Princess has appeared in the TV series Nine Perfect Strangers, and she’ll appear in the forthcoming film Song Sung Blue, expected to release in 2025.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts, IMDB, Pairs Project, Britannica.com, and Wikipedia.